Boards

I'm writing to a French guy via Sharedtalk.com (brilliant for language exchange) and we've started talking about music. He has hinted that at some point he'd like to hear what I think about French rock music.

Problem is...apart from Air and Daft Punk - neither of whom qualify as rock - I can't think of a single other French band.

Deathspell Omega and Blut Aus Nord are really good. Plus stuff like Alcest and Amesoeurs, which might appeal even if you're not into BM - the latter has a really strong post-rock/shoegaze influence, and the latter sort of melds post-punky new wave stuff with atmospheric Black Metal.

were an incredible new wave band that were around in the late 70s/early 80s but their stuff is incredibly hard to find. After they split up one member went solo as Daniel Darc and the other became an electro producer producing Madonna round 'Music' era.

Incredible metal band. Alcest and Amesoeurs are both really good shoegazing stuff, Alcest the better of the two. And of course don't forget M83 for that eighties electro shoegazing thing...it is rock sort of...

Serge Gainsbourg, of course. Buy/listen to Histoire De Melody Nelson - very cool concept album (also somewhat paedophilic given the Lolita-esque narrative) and a bonafide classic. The first track also inspired Beck's 'Paper Tiger' from Sea Change.
Also, though not a French band (they're Canadian), Malajube are a francophone band. Never got into them very much, but their track 'Ursuline' is fantastic. Perhaps your friend would be more interested in them; then you look cool for the recommendation.

Tahiti Boy and The Palmtree Family. If you're into Indie-Rock of the Vampire Weekend ilk (twee kind of stuff), then they'll be right up your street. They have a slightly retro bent, which works really well.

make some rather lovely music if, like me, you are rather fond of strings and things. Their latest "Le Génie Humain" got some excellent reviews. Alternatively you have the wonderful Louis Philippe. He has released many superb records over the years; and is also a close collaborator with the likes of The Clientele, Testbild and Louise Le May.